Inverness grandfather secures £30,000 in car crash claim – SIX TIMES more than the insurer offer

James Innes was driving on the A96 between Forres and Nairn when another car shot out of a junction causing the crash.

The 56-year-old was taken to Raigmore Hospital as he needed surgery to treat a broken arm after the bone pierced his skin. 

He said: “I got a steel bar put in my arm which left me with a slight weakness and ongoing aches and pains.

“I try to just get on with things and joke about how it gives me an excuse to not being able to help with the shopping bags – or an excuse for when my grandson beats me in wrestling matches!

“But I knew I was lucky it wasn’t worse.”

When the father-of-three contacted his insurance company, they said they could get £5,000 to address his injury claim.

However, James wisely refused as he had sought independent legal advice from Joanna Corrance in our Inverness office.

He added: “I didn’t have a reference point for what a fair sum would be but when I heard £5,000 I just knew that couldn’t be right.

“How could it be right when they didn’t even check any evidence or do any medicals?”

Joanna gathered the relevant evidence needed to properly assess James’ case as this was the best way to analyse the full extent of his injuries and work out a fair level of compensation for his car accident compensation claim.

She then wrote to the insurance company for the driver who hit James and explained that a car crash claim was underway.

The insurance company offered to pay James a settlement of £27,500 but Joanna knew this wasn’t fair – the insurers then made a second offer of £30,000 which James accepted.

This was a huge contrast to the £5,000 his insurer offered – and all without the need to go to court. 

James said: “From the moment Joanna got in touch, she was very clear that how much I would receive would depend on the medical evidence.

“I liked her approach. There was no funny business. Just clear information in plain black and white.

“She was kind, patient, explained everything in layman terms and didn’t speak down to you like I’ve experienced with other lawyers in the past.

“I was kept informed at all times and if I ever called her, she always made time for me.

“I just felt valued – like I mattered – and that’s why I’m glad I chose Digby Brown.”

The crash that led to James' injuries was previously reported in Inverness Courier.